Terms Of Product Selectivity Research Articles

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to α-Olefins with low CO2 selectivity on a Co2C catalyst

A Co2C catalyst with low CO2 selectivity for the Fischer-Tropsch to Olefins (FTO) was derived from a precursor catalyst prepared by a “melting” method. Co-Mn composite oxide, MnCo2O4.5, was identified as the dominant composition in the catalytic material before it was activated. The catalyst showed a weak interaction between Co and Mn with the presence of Na. Therefore, Co could be liberated easily from MnCo2O4.5 with H2 reduction at a usually used condition for Co-based catalyst for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS). A clear carburization of Co0 to Co2C was observed during the initial period of reaction, and this transformation could be achieved within 6 h. Four different crystal facets, (210), (020), (111), and (101) for Co2C, were identified once Co0 has been successfully carburized during the reaction. A limited amount of Co0 also transformed to Co3O4 during Co2C formation when H2O was produced by the FT reaction. The prepared catalyst demonstrated outstanding performance in terms of product selectivity. Its selectivity to lower olefins (C2-C4) was as high as 60.26 % with an average olefin/paraffin ratio of 26.69. Additional to high olefin selectivity, the CO2 selectivity was as low as 11.49 %, and that of C1 (CO2 + CH4) could be controlled at 16.44 % with optimal Co/Mn ratio and operating conditions. It was also found that transient state Co0 with Mn and Na as promoters demonstrated similar high olefin to paraffin ratios when compared to Co2C.

Bridging the Gap: Exploring new ways to deliver online Grocery shopping using Smart Software

Its great convenience and the availability of delivery and pickup options, online grocery shopping has transformed the procurement of food and household goods. These platforms frequently outperform brick-and-mortar businesses in terms of product selection. Technology, such as mobile apps and websites, has played a critical role in this process by delivering user-friendly interfaces, personalized recommendations, and smooth transactions. Artificial intelligence and data analytics improve the shopping experience even further by personalizing options and streamlining inventory management for shops.However, there are significant hurdles to online grocery buying, including delivery problems, the need for strong cybersecurity, and worries about the environmental impact of packing and transportation. Despite these obstacles, the online grocery business continues to be a dynamic and exciting component of modern retail as technology evolves and customer behaviors change.

Resolving the Mechanism for H2O2 Decomposition over Zr(IV)-Substituted Lindqvist Tungstate: Evidence of Singlet Oxygen Intermediacy.

The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the main undesired side reaction in catalytic oxidation processes of industrial interest that make use of H2O2 as a terminal oxidant, such as the epoxidation of alkenes. However, the mechanism responsible for this reaction is still poorly understood, thus hindering the development of design rules to maximize the efficiency of catalytic oxidations in terms of product selectivity and oxidant utilization efficiency. Here, we thoroughly investigated the H2O2 decomposition mechanism using a Zr-monosubstituted dimeric Lindqvist tungstate, (Bu4N)6[{W5O18Zr(μ-OH)}2] ({ZrW5}2), which revealed high activity for this reaction in acetonitrile. The mechanism of the {ZrW5}2-catalyzed H2O2 degradation in the absence of an organic substrate was investigated using kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational tools. The reaction is first order in the Zr catalyst and shows saturation behavior with increasing H2O2 concentration. The apparent activation energy is 11.5 kcal·mol-1, which is significantly lower than the values previously found for Ti- and Nb-substituted Lindqvist tungstates (14.6 and 16.7 kcal·mol-1, respectively). EPR spectroscopic studies indicated the formation of superoxide radicals, while EPR with a specific singlet oxygen trap, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidone (4-oxo-TEMP), revealed the generation of 1O2. The interaction of test substrates, α-terpinene and tetramethylethylene, with H2O2 in the presence of {ZrW5}2 corroborated the formation of products typical of the oxidation processes that engage 1O2 (endoperoxide ascaridole and 2,3-dimethyl-3-butene-2-hydroperoxide, respectively). While radical scavengers tBuOH and p-benzoquinone produced no effect on the peroxide product yield, the addition of 4-oxo-TEMP significantly reduced it. After optimization of the reaction conditions, a 90% yield of ascaridole was attained. DFT calculations provided an atomistic description of the H2O2 decomposition mechanism by Zr-substituted Lindqvist tungstate catalysts. Calculations showed that the reaction proceeds through a Zr-trioxidane [Zr-η2-OO(OH)] key intermediate, whose formation is the rate-determining step. The Zr-substituted POM activates heterolytically a first H2O2 molecule to generate a Zr-peroxo species, which attacks nucleophilically to a second H2O2, causing its heterolytic O-O cleavage to yield the Zr-trioxidane complex. In agreement with spectroscopic and kinetic studies, the lowest-energy pathway involves dimeric Zr species and an inner-sphere mechanism. Still, we also found monomeric inner- and outer-sphere pathways that are close in energy and could coexist with the dimeric one. The highly reactive Zr-trioxidane intermediate can evolve heterolytically to release singlet oxygen and also decompose homolytically, producing superoxide as the predominant radical species. For H2O2 decomposition by Ti- and Nb-substituted POMs, we also propose the formation of the TM-trioxidane key intermediate, finding good agreement with the observed trends in apparent activation energies.

Palladium-Catalyzed Selective Amino- and Alkoxycarbonylation of Iodoarenes with Aliphatic Aminoalcohols as Heterobifunctional O,N-Nucleophiles.

Palladium-catalyzed amino- and alkoxycarbonylation reactions of aryl iodides were investigated in the presence of aliphatic heterobifunctional N,O-nucleophiles. Selective synthesis of amide alcohols and amide esters was realized, controlled by the base and substrate ratio. The effect of iodobenzene substituents was also studied with surprising results in terms of product selectivity. In addition to the model ethanolamine/iodobenzene system, various heteroaromatic substrates and numerous related nucleophiles were tested under optimized conditions, providing moderate to good yields of the target compounds. Reactions of serinol and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol as model trifunctional compounds showed particularly high chemoselectivity on amide ester products. Considering the coordinative properties of the applied nucleophiles, a rational catalytic cycle was proposed.

Green or non-green: A game to introduce decision making under fairness concerns

As such problems as scarcity of resources and environmental pollution have become increasingly prominent, the concept of emerging green products has been gradually entering the consciousness of manufacturers and retailers. However, will the supply chain members challenged by the high cost of green products be willing to make the transition to green production? To answer this question, this paper studies the production and sales decisions made by the manufacturers and retailers when taking the production of both common products and green products into consideration. In terms of product selection, the model of fairness and neutrality concerns is constructed and carefully studied. It is found in this study that with all the manufacturers under capacity constraints, when the manufacturers produce common products, their fairness concerns will increase their own utility but damage that of their downstream partners; when it comes to green products, the fairness concerns of the retailers will not decrease the utility of the manufacturers, which is the same case as the fairness-neutral retailers, but the manufacturers will be provoked to maximize their utility by their fairness concerns; the optimal level of green efforts by manufacturers and retailers should be obtained by measuring the cost coefficients of both parties. These conclusions will not only help improve the green level of the supply chain but also well exhibit the friendly development of surrounding conditions.

Constructing a multi-bishelled cobalt-based electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction in CO2 electrolysis

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 into value-added chemicals has been envisioned as a promising strategy to alleviate the issue of increasing CO2 emissions. However, the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER), as the anodic reaction, typically consumes approximately 90% of the electricity input, necessitating the development of an efficient OER for energy-saving purposes. Herein, we developed a unique heterostructure of multi-double (bi)-shelled Co-based spheres via a facile template-free method, in which each bi-shelled structure is composed of Co9Se8/Co9S8/CoO (Co-S-Se) with a symmetric configuration. These heterogeneous nanospheres possess both sufficient heterointerfaces and a high density of active sites and exhibit excellent OER activity in alkaline media with a low overpotential of 226 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 46.5 mV dec−1, and long-term durability over 15 h. As a proof and concept, when coupled with a cathodic CO2 reduction reaction, the electrochemical performance of Pd nanosheets (NSs) for CO2 reduction can be significantly enhanced in terms of product selectivity and energy input. Our study might provide insight into the development of efficient OER electrocatalysts for practical CO2 reduction reactions.

A Heuristic Approach to Linking Experimental Descriptors with Product Selectivity in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction.

An important challenge in electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) is relating experimental conditions to their consequences, particularly in terms of product selectivity. The problem lies in the lack of descriptors which adequately describe the experimental protocols and their associated results. In this study, a machine learning approach is applied to correlate the molar composition of 21 single metals and 23 bimetallic particles, as well as operating parameters, from a large collection of synthetic records compiled from the literature with product selectivity. The decision tree obtained shows the conditions that lead to high desired product selectivity and provides a heuristic insight into its electrochemistry. As such, the data does not provide details. However, machine learning algorithms are capable of identifying hidden patterns in the data, providing a deeper insight into the chemistry involved in product formation in the ECR.

Cobalt-Based Metal Organic Frameworks as Solids Catalysts for Oxidation Reactions

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline solids whose frameworks are constituted by metal ions/nodes with rigid organic linkers leading to the formation of materials having high surface area and pore volume. One of the unique features of MOFs is the presence of coordinatively unsaturated metal sites in their crystalline lattice that can act as Lewis acid sites promoting organic transformations, including aerobic oxidation reactions of various substrates such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, and sulfides. This review article summarizes the existing Co-based MOFs for oxidation reactions organized according to the nature of substrates like hydrocarbon, alcohol, olefin, and water. Both aerobic conditions and peroxide oxidants are discussed. Emphasis is placed on comparing the advantages of using MOFs as solid catalysts with respect to homogeneous salts in terms of product selectivity and long-term stability. The final section provides our view on future developments in this field.

A review on the role of hierarchical zeolites in the production of transportation fuels through catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass

Design of highly active catalysts plays a critical role in catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of lignocellulosic biomass. Advanced catalysts can improve the deoxygenation rate of pyrolysis vapors and boost the production of fuel precursors. Zeolites are suitable frameworks for catalyzing pyrolysis vapors into species of transportation fuel value. However, their nano-sized structure limits the diffusion of reactants into pores and over active sites. Consequently, the aggregation of large molecules outside micropores leads to a massive coke formation, blocking pore channels, and thus, preventing the accessibility to acid sites. This could cause quick deactivation and instability of the catalyst, necessitating frequent catalyst regeneration and replenishment. Hierarchical micro/mesopore-structured zeolites are promising candidates to cope with the mentioned challenges. In addition to their adjusted pore structure and increased accessibility of acid sites, the formation of mesoporosity in zeolites provides an adequate room for the deposition of additional active phases such as metal nanoparticles, further boosting the catalytic activity. Different strategies used for preparing hierarchical zeolites can tremendously alter their attributes, and consequently affect product selectivity during CFP of biomass. Focusing on the precursors of transportation fuels (i.e., aromatic hydrocarbons and olefins), the present paper critically reviews the impacts of methods used for synthesizing hierarchical zeolite, on CFP of bio-based feedstocks. Moreover, the role of metal addition to hierarchical zeolites in biomass catalytic pyrolysis is also discussed briefly. Among the different synthesis techniques, desilication treatment using alkaline solutions is the most promising owing to its simplicity, high productivity, and scalability. In terms of product selectivity, the addition of Ga species to hierarchical zeolites can increase aromatic hydrocarbons while Ce incorporation can increase the yield of valuable oxygenates such as furan. Despite the advantages of mono-metallic hierarchical zeolites in producing cherished chemicals, future studies should scrutinize the influence of bi-metallic hierarchical zeolites in bio-based CFP processes.

Recognition and Characteristics of Purchasing Floral Bouquets of the Consumers at Graduation and Entrance Ceremonies

The present study surveyed 242 Korean consumers to identify the characteristics of consumer awareness and purchasing habits of floral bouquet products during graduation and entrance ceremonies. According to the results of the survey, consumers purchased floral bouquets during the graduation and entrance ceremony season mainly in order to celebrate a special day with family and friends as the guiding active reason. Consumers possessed more experience with purchasing floral bouquets for the graduation and entrance ceremonies for elementary, middle, and high school, than for kindergarten or university. Consumers purchased the floral bouquets typically one to two hours preceding the event, at the street vendor. Consumers preferred floral bouquets with the prices between 10,000 and 50,000 KRW, and a medium (21 - 50 cm in diameter) size of floral bouquets. The most important price decision factor for floral bouquets for consumers was the quality of the floral bouquet product, and furthermore, the overall bouquet design was the most important characteristic in terms of product selection. According to the age groups, teenagers preferred vivid and colorful cut flower at higher levels that the age category of 30s and older, while the age group of 30s preferred a larger cut flower than the 20s age category. The reasons why the consumers did not purchase floral bouquets were mainly untrustworthy price and short vase life of the products, thus fostering dissatisfaction in consumers. Consumers seldom purchased the replacement floral products including preserved flowers, dried flowers, and plastic flowers as a substitute for floral bouquets during the graduation and entrance ceremonies, but they tended to purchase the replacement floral products due to their longer lifespan and easier maintenance levels. From the results gathered, a proper public education and promotion on the product price and postharvest of cut flowers would be necessary to enhance the consumers’ recognition enhancement of floral products.

Clomazone Aktif Maddesinin Yarı Kurak Koşullarda Geleneksel Pamuk (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Tarlalarında Yabancı Ot Kontrolünde Çıkış Öncesi Herbisitlerle Tank Karışımı

One of the critical components of successful cotton production is effective weed management. Since cotton cannot compete sufficiently with weeds, especially in the first six weeks, a certain number of weeds significantly reduces cotton yield. In addition, weeds can make cotton harvest difficult and contaminate cotton fiber. The main preferred control method for broadleaf weeds in the conventional cotton of Turkey (non-tolerant and non-resistant varieties) is the use of pre-emergence herbicides. However, since there is not much information about the effects of mixtures of different pre-planting herbicides, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and selectivity of herbicides applied as a pre-emergence mixture in cotton. The randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and eleven treatments was used in the field experiment. The plots were established to 20 square meters (4 m x 5 m). Herbicide applications in the study were carried out in Diyarbakir in 2015, and dual mixtures of clomazone, fluometuron, oxyfluorfen, and pendimethalin were used with different mixtures and doses. Clomazone 0.2 l ha-1 + fluometuron 1,5 l ha-1, clomazone 0.2 l ha-1 + fluometuron 2 l ha-1, clomazone 0.4 l ha-1 + pendimethalin 1.5 l ha-1 and clomazone 0.3 l ha-1 + pendimethalin 2 l ha-1 mixture was found to be complete weed control efficiency. This result shows that mixtures with clomazone active ingredient increase in the efficiency of herbicides pre-planting. Oxyfluorfen mixtures showed the most hazardous damage in terms of product selectivity. The highest cotton yield (> 5 t ha-1) was obtained from the application of mixes of clomazone 0.30 l ha-1 + fluometuron 2 l ha-1 and clomazone 0.2 l ha-1 + fluometuron 1.5 l ha-1, respectively.

Aerobic Oxidation of Xylose to Xylaric Acid in Water over Pt Catalysts.

Energy-efficient catalytic conversion of biomass intermediates to functional chemicals can make bio-products viable. Herein, we report an efficient and low temperature aerobic oxidation of xylose to xylaric acid, a promising bio-based chemical for the production of glutaric acid, over commercial catalysts in water. Among several heterogeneous catalysts investigated, Pt/C exhibits the best activity. Systematic variation of reaction parameters in the pH range of 2.5 to 10 suggests that the reaction is fast at higher temperatures but high C-C scission of intermediate C5 -oxidized products to low carbon carboxylic acids undermines xylaric acid selectivity. The C-C cleavage is also high in basic solution. The oxidation at neutral pH and 60 °C achieves the highest xylaric acid yield (64 %). O2 pressure and Pt amount have significant influence on the reactivity. Decarboxylation of short chain carboxylic acids results in formation of CO2 , causing some carbon loss; however, such decarboxylation is slow in the presence of xylose. The catalyst retained comparable activity, in terms of product selectivity, after five cycles with no sign of Pt leaching.

Dietary Patterns in Toddlers with Excess Weight. the 2016 Pitnuts Study

IntroductionChildren’s appropriate dietary pattern determines their optimal development, reduces the risk of childhood diseases and the risk of diet-dependent diseases, including obesity in adulthood.AimTo analyze the dietary patterns of children with excess weight aged 1-3 years in comparison with the main components of the safe nutrition model including: the organization of meals (frequency of meals), selection of products (food intake), energy and nutritional value of children’s diets.Material and methodsThe study was carried out in 2016 on a representative nationwide sample of children aged 5-36 months (n=1059). The analysis of dietary patterns covered 173 with excess weight children aged 13-36 months (BMI-z-score >1 SD). Their nutritional status was evaluated based on BMI and its standardisation according to the WHO reference child growth standards for children aged 0-5 years (BMI z-score). The diets of children were assessed using 3-day dietary records. The dietary patterns of the children who were analysed were determined using the cluster analysis (k-means method), including 11 variables concerning average daily intake of main food group products (cow’s milk, junior formula, milk products, bread, groats and rice, cereals, cured meats, fats, sugar and sweets, fruits, nectars and juices).ResultsThree clusters of overweight and obese children with different dietary patterns were identified. The diet of children from the first cluster (n=58) was based primarily on junior formula and foods for infants and toddlers. This dietary pattern was defined as the “baby food diet”. The second cluster comprised 33 children whose diets were characterised by high consumption of cow’s milk and dairy products, as well as cereal products, including bread, groats, rice and breakfast cereals. This dietary pattern was defined the “milk and cereals diet”. The third cluster consisted of 82 children whose dietary pattern was characterised by high consumption of bread, cold meats and fats, sweets, juices and fruits (the “sandwich and sugar diet”). In all the clusters the average intake of vegetables and fruit by children with excess weight was significantly lower than the recommended amounts. The study showed too high intake of energy, protein, sodium, B vitamins and saccharose and an insufficient supply of calcium, fibre, vitamin D, vitamin E, LCPUFA, iodine and potassium in the children’s diet in reference to nutritional recommendations. Younger children with the “baby food diet” pattern, due to the contribution of enriched food, had a more balanced diet in relation to the model of safe nutrition (nutritional norms). Older children’s diets – in the third year of life, were characterized by a diversified choice of products that are a source of protein and carbohydrates (milk, breakfast cereals, meat, bread, cold meats, sugar from beverages, dairy desserts and juices).ConclusionThe identified dietary patterns of toddlers with excess weight differ from the safe nutrition model in terms of product selection and nutrient profile.

Ranking of critical success factors for online retailing by TOPSIS approach

In present context of globalised markets, customers have become very choosy in terms of product selection. Along with low cost, on time delivery, convenience of giving order and purchasing has become very important for consumers. Therefore on line retailing is being very popular now a day. To work in such kind of environment, organisations need to be very careful in developing their processes and distribution channels. There are many factors, which influence success of online retailing. Based on literature review and discussion with industry professionals ten factors have been identified. These are on time delivery, inventory management, order tracking, less shipping cost, network optimisation, effective portal system, attractive offers on products, customer friendly policies, after sales service and advertisement through social media. These factors are ranked based on technique for order preferences by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach. Based on analysis, it is recommended that on line retailers should focus on timely delivery, attractive offers on products and effective portal system to influence new customers.

Ranking of critical success factors for online retailing by TOPSIS approach

In present context of globalised markets, customers have become very choosy in terms of product selection. Along with low cost, on time delivery, convenience of giving order and purchasing has become very important for consumers. Therefore on line retailing is being very popular now a day. To work in such kind of environment, organisations need to be very careful in developing their processes and distribution channels. There are many factors, which influence success of online retailing. Based on literature review and discussion with industry professionals ten factors have been identified. These are on time delivery, inventory management, order tracking, less shipping cost, network optimisation, effective portal system, attractive offers on products, customer friendly policies, after sales service and advertisement through social media. These factors are ranked based on technique for order preferences by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach. Based on analysis, it is recommended that on line retailers should focus on timely delivery, attractive offers on products and effective portal system to influence new customers.

Enhancement of the Efficiency and Selectivity for Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Fuels on Tailored Copper Catalyst Architectures

AbstractThe electroreduction of CO2 is one of the most promising strategies for the production of fuels, energy vectors, and chemicals from CO2. Recently, we have described the realization of an electrochemical reactor based on the use of a Cu cathode for the CO2 electroreduction reaction. Here, three Cu electrodes were prepared by different techniques that generate different surface structures and morphologies. These three Cu cathodes, employed in the electrolysis cell, are compared in terms of Faradaic efficiency (FE) and product selectivity to a reference Cu foil electrode. The higher active surface area of these samples produced an improved total FE versus the Cu smooth plate. In terms of product selectivity, Cu electroplating onto a Cu foil enhanced HCOOK production strongly; the electrofaceting treatment of the Cu foil drove selectivity towards the production of CH4. In the third electrode, the deposition of Cu onto carbon cloth favors the formation of C2H4.

Integrated enzymatic catalysis for biomass deconstruction: a partnership for a sustainable future

Deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass using enzymatic catalysis can offer several advantages as compared to chemical catalysis in terms of product selectivity, production cost and sustainability issues. This contribution aims to provide an account of current developments in the understanding of plant biomass microstructures and the impact of various enzymatic processes on cellulose decrystallization. Critical problems, including biomass recalcitrance, and operational factors, including potential solutions to improve their effectiveness as alternatives in future biorefineries, will be also discussed.

Hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane over Brønsted acid site tailored Pt/ZSM-12

Hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane is performed over ZSM-12 framework having tailored Bronsted acidity to investigate the effect in terms of product selectivity and yield. For this purpose, pure phase of ZSM-12 (bulk molar ratio Si/Al ~ 60) has been synthesized using TEABr as a structure directing agent. The framework Bronsted acidity is tailored with group II elements (M) viz. Ca, Ba and Mg, by means of ion-exchange method. The samples so prepared have been characterized for phase purity, textural parameters, morphology by employing powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm measurement at 77 K, and scanning electron microscopy technique, respectively. Similarly, % metal exchange is estimated using inductively coupled plasma technique. The quantification of Bronsted acidity for H+–M++–ZSM-12 samples has been estimated by means of ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of ammonia (NH3-FTIR). The well characterized H+–M++–ZSM-12 samples were loaded with Platinum (Pt, 0.5 wt%) and subjected to hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane using an up-flow fixed bed reactor to verify the effect of process parameters like temperature and WHSV. Pt/H+–Ba2+–ZSM-12 with tailored Bronsted acidity in the range of about 25 % demonstrated the optimum performance among all the catalysts with an increased isomer selectivity and yield (89.2 and 80.3 %, respectively) by about 4 wt% at a conversion level of about 90 % compared to Pt/H+–ZSM-12 framework at 568 K. Such enhancement in isomer selectivity and yield is found to be significant from commercial application point of view. Based on the obtained trend, the potential benefits of implementation of Pt/H+–Ba2+–ZSM-12 (bulk molar ratio Si/Al ~ 60) framework for cold flow property improvement of ‘bio-ATF’ have been envisaged.

Electrocatalytic activity of Ni-doped nanoporous carbons in the electrooxidation of propargyl alcohol

Herein, we explore the immobilization of nickel on various carbon supports and their application as electrocatalysts for the oxidation of propargyl alcohol in alkaline medium. In comparison with massive and nanoparticulated nickel electrode systems, Ni-doped nanoporous carbons provided similar propargyl alcohol conversions for very low metallic contents. Nanoparticulated Ni on various carbon supports gave rise to the highest electrocatalytic activity in terms of product selectivity, with a clear dependence on Ni content. The results point to the importance of controlling the dispersion of the Ni phase within the carbon matrix for a full exploitation of the electroactive area of the metal. Additionally, a change in the mechanism of the propargyl alcohol electrooxidation was noted, which seems to be related to the physicochemical properties of the carbon support as well. Thus, the stereoselectivity of the electrooxidative reaction can be controlled by the active nickel content immobilized on the anode, with a preferential oxidation to (Z)-3-(2-propynoxy)-2-propenoic acid with high Ni-loading, and to propiolic acid with low loading of active Ni sites. Moreover, the formation of (E)-3-(2-propynoxy)-2-propenoic acid was discriminatory irrespective of the experimental conditions and Ni loadings on the carbon matrixes.

Emotions in supermarket brand choice

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to show how the application of multiple qualitative methods reveals insights into grocery shopping that cannot be captured via traditional survey methods. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed-method approach was applied where the results of one technique provided the guidelines for the next as a way to understand how decisions are made within a grocery store. A mail survey started the process which subsequently presented input for the focus group, leading to videographic observations, depth interviews and consumer diaries. Findings – The results show that many decisions in the grocery store are not driven by the store environment but rather by emotional connections to the brand. This suggests that using behavioral and attitudinal surveys to understand this perspective may not adequately capture important aspects of grocery buying. Instead, consideration must be given to alternative methods which offer the shopper freedom to discuss what is important to them in terms of product selection. Research limitations/implications – This study is unique in applying multiple qualitative methods to an environment that is often overlooked as a source for meaningful insights into consumer decisions. The ability to use methods such as videography and self-assessment provides consequential reasons behind consumer behaviour rather than just statistical measurements of this. Practical implications – The results make a note of caution for retailers. Radical changes to brand offerings (e.g. deleting lines) and accessibility to preferred products (e.g. out of stocks, store layouts) runs the risk of potentially isolating regular customers. Our research shows that when a favorite product is not available, a substitute is not likely. Instead respondents tend to go to another store that does stock their brand, or they buy a smaller, cheaper product to “make do” until the next shop. Neither option is a good outcome for the consumer, the manufacturer or the store. Originality/value – This study will show that for grocery buying, not all decisions are rational where the use of available information is what drives the final brand choice. Instead, consumers display evidence of emotion that one research method in isolation is unlikely to adequately capture.